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Zilber unveils $50 million donation to revitalize Milwaukee
Published May 12, 2008 - BizTimes Daily
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Milwaukee real estate developer and philanthropist Joseph Zilber formally announced today that he will donate $50 million to "revitalize Milwaukee's neighborhoods and reconnect all of her citizens to social and economic opportunity."
As the BizTimes Daily first reported on Friday, Zilber, the 90-year-old founder and chairman of Zilber Ltd. and Towne Realty Inc., announced his commitment to "rebuild" his hometown.
"We all recognize that Milwaukee is at an important crossroads. We have suffered the loss of too many good jobs over the past four decades. Our rates of crime, of poverty, of drug addiction, of neighborhoods in bad shape, of individuals and families of despair, of hunger and homelessness are much too high. Such conditions make some people skeptical about the prospects for Milwaukee," Zilber said in his announcement at Milwaukee City Hall this morning.
"But I believe the current reality presents a far more interesting and hopeful story. In fact, Milwaukee may have the best chance in decades to engineer a new future for itself and its citizens. We have, in Milwaukee, civic and community leaders who are working hard each and every day to improve the conditions in our neighborhoods and the lives of Milwaukeeans. We can, and must, do more to support them as together we create the future we want … for ourselves, our children and our children's children," he said.
Zilber said he wants to leverage his $50 million donation to generate a pool of $200 million in resources to benefit Milwaukee by calling on other philanthropists, corporations and foundations to join the cause.
Zilber said the money will be used to support "programs that work and replace those that don't."
Zilber has hired Dr. Susan Lloyd, formerly of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in Chicago, to oversee his Milwaukee venture.
"In 10 years, I will be 100 years old. I hope to be with you again, at that time, to mark the first decade of the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative and to celebrate our common achievement. You all know that there is no future without hope. Our hope for a brighter future for Milwaukee starts right here, right now. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work," Zilber said.
Today's announcement was warmly embraced by Milwaukee governmental officials.
"I am sure that the foundation and Joe Zilber want to see the best bang for their buck and want the money to get into the hands of people who can do the most good with it," said District 4 Alderman Robert Bauman.
"Joe Zilber has climbed the ladder of opportunity and when he got to the top, he never forgot about those who did not climb it," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. "He recognized that we in government, as much as we would like to address all of the city's needs, we cannot do it alone. He understands the power of partnerships, of working together and giving back. And he knows that we must create hope in the minds of young people in this community."
Other prominent Milwaukeeans will likely make similar gifts, Barrett said, which will help the city transform some of its most troubled neighborhoods.
"We are at a crossroads, where partnerships like this will help take the city to a new level," Barrett said. "Earlier this morning Mr. Zilber said to me, 'We're going to do this.' I know we're going to do this. I want this to have a catalytic effect, a ripple effect. And together, we can do it."
District 15 Alderman and Common Council President Willie Hines said, "This city is filled with great potential, tremendous opportunity and great promise. The challenges we face are great. Mr. Zilber understands how great they are and he's willing to meet them head on."
Today's announcement of a $50 million donation comes in addition to Zilber's announcement last August that he would donate $30 million to the Marquette University Law School and $10 million to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to create a School of Public Health, as well as other donations.
